A 16-year-old boy was fatally shot by an 11-year-old during a home invasion in St. Louis County.

The incident occurred Thursday afternoon. Sgt. Brian Schellman, of the St. Louis Police Department, said two suspects broke into a home on Hallwood Drive, KSDK reported.

That’s when an 11-year-old boy inside the home took matters into his own hands. He reportedly grabbed a gun and fired one shot at the suspects, striking a 16-year-old. The teen was found lying on the front foyer by police and was pronounced dead on the scene, police say.

ADVERTISEMENT

Thanks for watching!

Sgt. Schellman said the two suspects had tried to break into the home twice earlier that day. The second suspect was caught and is currently in custody.

However, one unnamed neighbor gave CNN affiliate KMOV a different account of the story. The woman claims the 16-year-old never entered the home.

“They were just arguing loud, you know, back and forth,” said the woman. “He was always was just sitting right there on the porch. He never did once go inside the house."

ADVERTISEMENT

Thanks for watching!

ADVERTISEMENT

Thanks for watching!

A 4-year-old girl was present inside the home at the time of the incident. The mother of the two children, who was not home during the attempted break-in, is cooperating with the St. Louis County Police Department’s Bureau of Crimes Against Persons during their investigation.

According to CNN, the mother had purchased the handgun for safety after prior break-in attempts. No names have been released at this time.

It is unclear at this time why the 11-year-old was left at home alone with his 4-year-old sister, or why he was able to access the gun.